Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunny Maxima’

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunny Maxima’, characterized by its plant height averaging 16 cm, and plant diameter averaging 25 cm; thicker and sturdier stems; large, composite, daisy type inflorescences measuring up to 8 cm in diameter; fully opened inflorescences with striking red-purple ray florets with light red-purple bases and disc florets with gray-purple tips and a light purple basal tube; and mature foliage color of green, RHS 137A (upper side) and yellow-green, RHS 147B (under side).

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunny Maxima’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum eklonis (DC) T.Norl., commonly known as Cape Daisy, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety denomination ‘Sunny Maxima’.

The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Bjarne Larsen, in Stige, Odense, Denmark. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop a new Osteospermumcultivar with upright, compact plant habit, interesting inflorescencecolor, good branching performance, low growth retardant requirements,and low temperature tolerance.

The new Osteospermum originated from a planned crossing of twoOsteospermum selected parent plants made by the inventor in 2003 inStige, Odense, Denmark. The female or seed parent is an Osteospermumecklonis (DC) T. Norl. cultivar designated ‘1.154.93 ’ (unpatented). Themale or pollen parent is an Osterospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.cultivar designated ‘998’ (unpatented). The new Osteospermum cultivar‘Sunny Maxima’ was selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above crossing in 2003 in a controlledenvironment in Stige, Odense, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum cultivar by apical stemcuttings was first performed in June 2003 in Stige, Odense, Denmark, andhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Sunny Maxima’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunny Maxima’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plant height averaging 16 cm, and plant diameter averaging 25        cm;    -   2. Thicker and sturdier stems;    -   3. Large, composite, daisy type inflorescences measuring up to        78 cm in diameter;    -   4. Fully opened inflorescences with striking red-purple ray        florets with light red-purple bases and disc florets with        gray-purple tips and a light purple basal tube; and    -   5. Mature foliage color of green, RHS 137A (upper side) and        yellow-green, RHS 147B (under side).

Plants of the parental cultivars, ‘1.154.93’ (unpatented) and ‘998’(unpatented) are unavailable to provide a detailed botanical comparisonto plants of the new cultivar ‘Sunny Maxima’.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Maxima’ isOsteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Mary’ (allowed, U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,389). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stige, Odense,Denmark, plants of ‘Sunny Maxima’ differed from plants of ‘Sunny Mary’in the characteristics described in Tabe 1:

TABLE 1 New Cultivar Comparison Cultivar Trait ‘Sunny Maxima’ ‘SunnyMary’ Plant height About 16 cm About 18 Plant diameter About 25 cm About18 Number of lateral 2-4 primary, 2 primary, branches 16-18 secondary 20secondary (flowering) Lateral branch Primary: 3-5 cm, Primary: 2 cm,Length Secondary: 4-12 cm Secondary: 12-14 cm (including inflorescence)Lateral branch 7-8 mm 3-5 mm diameter Quantity of leaves 12-16 12 perlateral branch Internode length 10-12 mm 10-17 mm Leaf margin 4triangular, Broadly lobed, acute lobes few pointed lobes Mature leafcolor Upper side: RHS 137A Upper side: RHS N147A Under side: RHS 147BUnder side: RHS 148A Number of About 32 About 37 inflorescences perplant Inflorescence Diameter About 8 cm 4-5 cm Bud Color Fromyellow-green, From green, RHS RHS 146B (base) 137B (base) to yellow- topurple, RHS green, RHS 150A N79A (apex) Ray floret color Red-purple, RHS72C Red-purple, RHS 67A, (Fully opened, (apex) to light red- withstripes of darker upper side) purple, RHS 73D red-purple, RHS (base) 72ARay floret color Gray-purple, RHS Purple, RHS N79A, (Fully opened, 186A,with gray- with purple stripes, under side) orange stripes and RHS N79Cedges, RHS 176A Fading color No fading, withering No fading, witheringto RHS 177B, to RHS 79A, gray-orange purple Phyllaries 18 lanceolateunits 15 lanceolate units fused basally fused basally Anthers color Darkpurple, RHS 97A Black, RHS 202A Stigma color Purple Yellow, RHS 16C,yellow-orange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Maxima’ showing the colors astrue as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which acccurately describethe color of the new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Maxima’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plantof ‘Sunny Maxima’ (labelled with the Breeder's reference 50.002.01), asa produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 2 shows a dissected view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SunnyMaxima’, as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 3 shows a view of different leaf forms and sizes of ‘Sunny Maxima’,as a produced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the inflorescences of ‘Sunny Maxima’, as aproduced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the inflorescences of ‘Sunny Maxima’, as aproduced cultivar, 20 weeks after planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Osteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Maxima’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and daylength, without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newOsteospermum cultivar ‘Sunny Maxima’ as grown in a greenhouse andoutside in Stige, Odense, Denmark, under conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice and garden use.Vegetative propagation with apical tip cuttings (4-5 leaves) took placein a greenhouse with propagation tents for about 3 weeks with the dayand night temperature averaging about 20° C. The temperature was thenlowered to the day and night temperature averaging about 14° C. Theplants were subirrigated with a nutrient solution of 2-3 mS when neededand given supplementary irradiation with SON T lamps having an installedenergy level of 400 Wm².

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S), 4 ^(th) edition 2000, except where general colors ofordinary significance are used. The photographs and descriptions weretaken during the spring season when outdoor day temperatures ranged from7° C. to 15° C. and outdoor night temperatures ranged from 0° C. to 7°C. The age of the plants described is 20 weeks.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.            designated ‘1.154.93’ (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) T. Norl.            designated ‘998’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Apical stem cutting.        -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—Summer: About 12 to            14 days at to 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.            Winter: About 17 to 20 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels            in a greenhouse.        -   Time and temperature to develop roots—Summer: About 14 to 18            days at 20° C to 22° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse. Winter:            About 20 to 22 days at 20° C. to 22° C. in tunnels in a            greenhouse.        -   Rooting description.—100 % rooting.        -   Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous and branching.        -   Root color.—White, RHS 155D.        -   Root Texture.—Coarse.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Perennial plant with upright            plant habit and used as a bedding or potted plant. Plant            non-hardy as a bedding plant. Osteospermum inflorescences in            composite heads, daisy type.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Freely branching with lateral            flowering branches forming at every node; dense and bushy.            Basal branching and pinching required.        -   Growth rate/vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 16            cm, Range: 14-17 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm, Range 20-28 cm.        -   Plant strength.—Low temperature tolerance: Withstands            temperatures down to +1° C. High temperature tolerance: Up            to +35° C. but flowering may cease.        -   Crop time to produce a mature flowering plant.—After            rooting, about 20 weeks are required to produce finished            flowering plants in 11 cm pots.-   Branches:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—2-4 primary, 16-18 secondary.        -   Length.—Primary: About 3-5 cm. Secondary: 4-12 cm (including            inflorescence).        -   Diameter.—About 7-8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 10-12 mm.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright, branches at 45° angle.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color—Yellow-green, RHS 144B, with spots of gray-purple, RHS            184C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate (5-whorl), single, entire, lobed,            ovate to spatulate.        -   Length.—About 3-8 cm.        -   Width.—About 1-3 cm.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Ovate to spatulate.        -   Shape at apex.—Mature leaf: Rounded. Young leaf: Acute.        -   Shape at base.—Attenuate, decurrent.        -   Margin.—Entire, 4 triangular, acute lobes.        -   Texture.—Scattered, short stiff hairs along veins and edges.        -   Color of developing foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 146C,            yellow-green. Lower surface: RHS 148C, yellow-green.        -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 137A, green.            Lower surface: RHS 147B, yellow-green.        -   Venation pattern.—Brochidodromus, form of pinnate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 148B, yellow-green.        -   Petiole length.—About 10-35 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 2-6 mm (flat, winged).        -   Petiole texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface:            Glabrous, with scattered short stiff hairs.        -   Petiole color.—Upper surface: RHS 145B, yellow-green. Lower            surface: RHS 145C, yellow-green.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences held above            and beyond the foliage. Single, composite inflorescence            form, radially symmetrical, with flat lanceolate, ligulate            ray florets and tubular disc florets massed at the center,            ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.            Inflorescences face upright with aspect of 60° angle.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring            and summer in temperate regions. Season can be extended by            vernalization and long day treatments. Flowering may cease            if night temperatures exceed +25° C. for several weeks.        -   Time to flower.—7 to 14 days (longevity of individual            inflorescences is dependent on temperature and light            conditions).        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance for about 14 days on the plant when grown in            an outdoor environment. Inflorescences persistent, but            wither to almost insignificance.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering; more than 30            open inflorescences and inflorescence buds per plant.        -   Rate of inflorescences opening.—About 3 per week per plant,            depending on light and temperature conditions.        -   Fragrance.—Flowers have a weak, fresh lemon scent.-   Bud:    -   -   Rate of opening (from showing color to fully open            inflorescence).—4 to 6 days.        -   Quantity per lateral stem.—About 9 to 13.        -   Length.—About 0 to 20 mm at color showing.        -   Diameter.—About 0 to 10 mm.        -   Shape.—Globular until color, then ovoid.        -   Color.—From RHS 146C, yellow-green (base) to RHS N79A,            purple (apex).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Terminal: About 7 cm. Secondary: About 6 cm.            Tertiary: About 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Appearance and angle.—Terminal: Erect, 5 to 10 degrees from            vertical. Secondary: About 30 to 45 degrees from vertical.            Tertiary: About 30 to 45 degrees from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—RHS 144C, yellow-green.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 6 mm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 13 mm.        -   Receptable height.—About 14 mm.        -   Receptacle shape.—Conical (inverted).        -   Receptacle color.—RHS 145D, yellow-green.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Typical number: 20, overlapping,            in 1½ whorl. Observed number: 19-22.        -   Length.—About 30 mm, Range: 28-32.        -   Width.—About 9 mm, Range: 8-10 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Elliptic (Flat lanceolate, ligulate).        -   Shape at apex.—Acute with slight retuse tip.        -   Shape at base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Velvety. Lower surface: Shiny.        -   Orientation.—Initially 20 degrees from vertical, with            development, close to 0 degrees from vertical.        -   Color (when opening).—Upper side: RHS N75C, purple (apex) to            RHS 75D(base). Under side: Gray-purple center stripe, RHS            186A with stripes of gray-red, RHS 182B, and few spots and            edges with gray-red, RHS 179C.        -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper side: Red-purple, RHS 72C            (apex) to light red-purple, RHS 73D. Under side:            Gray-purple, RHS 186A, with gray-orange stripes and edges,            RHS 176A.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Typical number: 80. Observed            number: 74-90.        -   Length.—About 6 mm.        -   Width.—At apex: About 2-3 mm. At base: About 1-2 mm.        -   Disc area diameter.—About 13 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Tubular.        -   Shape at apex.—Star with 5 triangular tips.        -   Shape at base.—Fused to tube.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color (when opening).—Upper and under side: RHS N79A, dark            purple.        -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper and under side: RHS 183A,            gray-purple (apex), and basal tube RHS 76D, light purple.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—18 lanceolate units.        -   Length.—About 6 to 12 mm.        -   Width.—About 1-3 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Lanceolate, basally fused.        -   Shape at apex.—Acuminate.        -   Shape at base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 144D, yellow-green. Lower surface:            RHS 144C, yellow-green.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium: On disc florets only.    -   -   Stamen number.—5 per floret; fused around style.        -   Stamen length.—About 2 mm.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther length.—About 1 mm.        -   Anther color.—RHS 97A, dark purple.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant        -   Pollen color.—RHS N25A, orange.-   Gynoecium: On ray and disc florets.    -   -   Quantity.—1 per floret.        -   Pistil length.—About 4 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Brush-like.        -   Stigma color.—Purple.        -   Style length.—About 2 mm.        -   Style color.—RHS 155B, white.        -   Ovary color.—RHS 2D, green-yellow.-   Seed: None observed at this stage of development.-   Fruit: None observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Good.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No diseases or pests observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have exhibited    good tolerance to draught, rain and wind; however, flowering may    cease during hot periods (when night temperatures exceed above 25°    C.). Low temperature tolerance to 1° C.-   Growth retardant(s): 3 times 0.2% Chlormequat drench during    production.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘SunnyMaxima’, as illustrated and described herein.